treat something as

[Itasan]

Do these mean the same thing? If so,
which would you use?
1. Everyone treated my words as a joke.
2. Everyone regarded my words as a joke.
3. Everyone considered my words as a joke.
Thank you.

[Tdol]

3- drop 'as'- otherwise, it suggests they debated the subject to me.

[Itasan]

Thank you very much, tdol.
>>they debated the subject to me.<<
What does that mean?
Thanks.
Itasan

[Tdol]

They discussed whether my words were a joke (or serious), rather than took them as a joke- for the latter, I'd say it without 'as'.